3 steps to cleansing your skin correctly

It’s been a long night, you come home exhausted, makeup still fully applied to your face. You think to yourself, “It can’t hurt to just turn in for the night, makeup and all” This is where often times people make the mistake, going to bed with your makeup still on is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when it comes to cleansing your skin and treating it with the respect it deserves.

From the time I was 15 to around the age of 22 I had the most problematic skin possible, it was dry, it was flakey and most of all it was pimply. Now many may say that this was due to adolescents, hormones, changing body and all that crap, this is partly true. But it was also due to the fact I wasn’t taking care of my skin the way I should have, I was using cheap makeup, cheap cleansers and sometimes even just bar soap (ahhhh, don’t hate me)

One of the golden rules when it comes to washing your face is DON’T USE BAR SOAP ON YOUR FACE! Soap is one of the most harmful things to possibly do when cleansing your skin. The plain and simple facts is that our skin is acidic, while most soaps are alkaline- based. Excuse me while I take off my lab coat, and explain it to a way that is way more clear and you can understand better. Using soap messes with the skins natural pH balance, which is usually between 4 and 6.5. So what this means for you is that when you apply that soap, it actually makes skin conditions worse! Because an alkaline environment encourages the growth of acne-causing bacteria, using a bar soap can make breakouts even worse.

Aside from the fact is amplifies any existing skin conditions, it also strips the skin of all it’s natural oils, making it tight, and most importantly dry. And nobody wants dry skin, have you ever tried to apply makeup successfully to dry looking skin? The same effect would happen if you were to try cleansing your skin with dish washing detergent, and that’s a complete no, no. It will leave your face looking dull, haggard and wrinkled, the soap will clean your skin, I will give it that but it will not protect it.

So when it comes to washing your face, you need to be extremely careful as the skin is super delicate, so try and find cleansers that will compliment your skin with its problems, rather than make them worse.

Obviously not all soaps are made the same, so herb based and plant extract soaps are ok, but this is when you need to consult a dermatologist to make sure that the soap won’t be your undoing when it comes to your skin care regime and cleansing your skin correctly. Perfecting a face washing routine is one of the best things you can do to get that glowing complexion, and prevent all those horrible concerns like blemishes, dry, flaky skin.

So here are the facts plain and simple.

Numbero uno, keep the water you use to wash your face at a lukewarm temperature.

Obviously splashing hot water on your face is highly inadvisable unless you want burns all over your face, and on the opposite side of that if the water is too cold it can actually cause irritation to the skin and even lead to broken capillaries.

Number two, when it comes to scrubbing your skin it should never be done vigorously!

Scrubbing your face with a washcloth like it’s a dirty floor leads to massive irritation to the skin, redness and even breakouts. So simply use a washcloth or your hands to gently wash your face in a circular motion rather than up and down.

Coming off the second rule, don’t overuse that washcloth. Would you wipe your face with the cloth you wipe the kitchen bench with? No? Same concept applies here. You are actively wiping germs all across your face and just because you are washing your face with a cleanser doesn’t mean it’s sanitized and free of bacteria. If you must use a washcloth, pick a gentle fabric and wash it often.

If you are using just your hands to wash your face, wash them before you do it. No, I’m not your mother telling you to wash your hands before dinner (although this rule should apply too) But it is counterproductive to apply a cleansing product with dirty hands.

One of the key rules that people actually forget or are unaware of is you should actually take your makeup off before you wash your face. I know, I know, you’re probably thinking but I’m washing the makeup off with my cleanser. But not all cleansers are designed to specifically remove these products. So before you wash it, get a good quality micellar water and get as much of the makeup off as you can. And then you are good to go.

And last but not least, be conscious of the formula that makes up your cleanser.

If your skin is prone to dryness, look for a cleanser that’s made with moisturizing vitamin E and is fragrance-free. In addition to cleansing your face be sure to tone, and then moisturize your face.

Now I obviously am not a dermatologist, but as a person who has come out of the other side of horrible looking skin and I can only comment on what works for me. These are my sworn by rules when it comes to my everyday skin care routine.